The Pennsylvania Game Commission has announced plans to conduct controlled burns on state Game Lands over the next several months, when weather and conditions allow.

The locations are:

State game lands 43, Warwick Township, Chester County, 58 acres

Stage game lands 210, Jefferson Township, Dauphin County, 591 acres

State game lands 83, Lower Chanceford Township, York County, 63 acres

State game lands 156, Penn Township, Lancaster County, 194 acres

State game lands 227, Rush Township, Schuylkill County, 70 acres

State game lands 80, Bethel Township, Lebanon County, 96 acres.

Dave Henry, southeast region forester for the Game Commission, said controlled burns are designed to improve forest and wildlife habitat.

“The problem is that in a number of these locations, the oak seedlings are being outcompeted by other tree species, such as birch, maple and tulip poplar,” Henry said. “The oak seedlings will eventually die out and be replaced, changing the composition of the forest. The loss of the oak seedlings is a problem because oak trees are extremely valuable to wildlife.”

The controlled burn will allow oak to remain the dominant species, Henry said.

When weather conditions are right, Henry said the public will be notified of the impending burn.

Henry said access to the land being burned will be limited. Trained staff will be on site with fire equipment and water and local fire and emergency personnel will be notified.

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